The Brookhaven leader., 1887-12-01
W. c. L. t..
Prison Reform.

he tOllOWlng Is u l'oilipl w ~
ter written to the w. c. 7. |. by our
State President. Are there any of us
with souls 50 dead, that we can indif-
fcrently contemplate this pititul tale,
and not feel urged to do whdt ice can
to right the wrongs Practiccd under
the leasing system! Oh! for guidance
to work Alright! This is the story
had grace given me to insist upon
seeing, though repeatedly refused. |
urged that other ladies had been al
lowed to see all the sick in the hos
pital. Mr.. BankStou said. that was
owing to his absence on sabbath even
ing. since it would not have been per
mittcd had he been there. In course
of conversation he stated that the
young man in question had been par
doned, his time of imprisonment was
within two weeks of being ont, couSc-
qucntly he was at liberty to go where
he pleased. | caught at this as Il last
hope; then said you cannot refuse To
let me see free man, you SAY he Is no
longer prisoner? after this consent
was granted aud my friend and were
conducted through the large iron door
into the prison. | had noticed how
clearly and even elegant were all the
appurtcnces to the entrance of the Pen
itentiary. Handsome secretaries
desks and office. all in good keeping.
n bright fire in the CRATE, for it was a
chilly September morning. everything
looked comfortable, quite Il credit to
our State. But all, my sisters, when
the iron door opened then clamgled
behind us, another scene greeted us.
As we were conducted up the steps
which led to the hospital, there out
side upon the landing of the stairway
a sight met our eyes which for equal
led misery and suffering beggardcd
description. \ young man. apparent
" % or % years of age, was lying
upon Il cot out in the open air it was
cold enough for fire in the colntorta-
bic Office below no protection bat the
iron bars which served for windows.
no doors to shut off the draft from the
stairway. Shivcring, cmaciuted. sui
fering, clothing too ,;ant to cover his
body. bedding poorest kind. covered
with dirt and verminc, no strength to
push away the flies which sWarmed
over his face, III the last stage of con.
sumption-cold contracted when ont
the winter before at work in the cold
and wet, so lie told me. As we APP
preached him and his great snnken
ewes met mine my heart WAS full as
the thought passed through my mind
here lies some mothers boy. You
may say this was all scntimentaIlty
or a woman's weakness, but am glad
10 confess to either. since ii makes me
sick with borrow from contemplating
the suffering object before me. Rag
ged, filthy, cold, neglected, soon to
appear in the presence OF God to give
an account for his own deeds and may
we not fear, oh, Christians of MiSSis-
sippi, to give an account also of the
fearful neglect and brutal treatment
received when prisoner III tins grand
free country of ours! All this lies at
somebody's door, and it behooVes each
man or woman expecting to hear the
"come We blessed of my Father to
ask. may not this rise against me
when our Lord shall say, Il was sick
and in prison and We visited IN" not
SO soon as | could command my voice
/ asked the boy, do YOU know Jesus
our Savior? His eyes frightened until
through the filth that covered his face
there shOne almost Il glorious light
and he said, YES, yes, | know him. |
asked, where did yOu learn about Him
He said in my bible. Then on looking
around | saw little testament, rag
rcd. soilcd and worn outWardly but
containing that which had shed life
eternal life, in the darkness of life,
going ont even i'll a Mississippi prison.
| asked would you like to hear some
of the words of Jesus; he answered,
yes. l began repeating, LET not
your heart be troubled, We believe i'll
God believe also in me-" Ere | re-
peated the second verse he took it up
and repeated half through the chapter.
] confess ! broke down, and when |
tried to sing a gospel song, he said he
liked them best since he had heard
Mr.. Sankey sing. AS tried to sing,
There is a gate that stands aiar
And through its portals cleaning
4 radience from the cross atar
The Saviour's love revealing,
The sufferer took up the song and
sang through the chorus. choked
down again, my friend sat sobbing,
and on looking around saw through
the bars which served as hospital
door. those of the sick who were able
to stand, passing near crowded togeth-
es to hear the refrain.
Oh depths of mercy can it be,
That Tata was left aiar for me-